Stop me if you've heard this one before: The movie picture for fall is as hazy as the Canadian winds that have been messing up our air quality.
At least it's something new that is screwing up fall movies. COVID-19 wreaked havoc for a couple of seasons but it's the writers' and actors' strikes now.
Films are generally made a year or more in advance, so there are plenty of finished movies. However, in most cases, the strikes prevent the people who made them from promoting them — which means some of the most anticipated movies for the rest of the year have either been moved to 2024 already (Ethan Coen's great-looking screwball comedy "Drive-Away Dolls") or are in danger of moving.
It's a major bummer, given that studios and theaters are struggling to emerge from some rough years. The good news is there will be stuff to see because one thing that won't change is the great film series the Twin Cities gets almost year-round.
"Dune: Part Two" may not hit theaters in November as originally planned, but we'll still have these events:
Twin Cities Film Festival: Fall fests around the world always debut titles that go on to become awards contenders, and many of those also pop up at the annual event at Showplace Icon in St. Louis Park. Director Jatin Setia — whose event has had a knack for scheduling the area premieres of Oscar contenders such as "Women Talking" — says it's too early to identify specific titles that will be available, but added: "We have no doubt we'll have amazing studio films to share." The Oct. 19-28 fest will boast dozens of independent titles, including series that highlight films made by women and artists who are Black, Indigenous and people of color.
![People walk past the marquee Friday, July 28, 2023 outside the Main Cinema in Minneapolis, Minn.. The blockbuster releases of Oppenheimer and Barbie could show the demand for movie theaters isn't dead due to streaming services and the pandemic. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/GZE2PQJWSUNEFILDFE4WSOGD7Y.jpg?&w=1080)
MSP Film: The 11th annual Cine Latino Film Festival is the big news for fall. The best in moviemaking from Latin America and Spain will be presented at Minneapolis' Main Cinema Oct. 11-15. The fest opens with "Radical," which won the audience award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and it closes with the Spanish film "20,000 Species of Bees."
Heights Theater: The Columbia Heights gem continues its yearlong "Celebration of Cinema" with what may literally be something for everyone. Highlights include shocker "Rosemary's Baby" (it still holds up) Oct. 9, Stanley Kubrick's must-be-seen-on-a-big-screen "The Shining" Oct. 23 and maybe the greatest musical ever made, "Singin' in the Rain," Nov. 6.